tomamos
“tomamos” means “we take” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
we take, we took
Also: we grab, we seize
📝 In Action
Siempre tomamos el camino más largo para ver el paisaje.
A2We always take the long road to see the scenery.
Ayer tomamos una decisión muy importante para el equipo.
B1Yesterday we took a very important decision for the team.
we drink, we drank
Also: we have (a beverage)
📝 In Action
Cuando hace calor, siempre tomamos mucha agua.
A1When it's hot, we always drink a lot of water.
Anoche tomamos chocolate caliente antes de dormir.
A1Last night we drank hot chocolate before sleeping.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: tomamos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'tomamos' to mean something that happened yesterday?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'tomar' comes from the Latin verb *tumare*, which meant 'to swell.' Over time, its meaning shifted dramatically to 'to take' or 'to grab,' possibly influenced by the related Gothic word *neman* (to take).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'tomamos' means 'we took' (past) or 'we take' (present)?
You need context! Look for time markers like 'hoy' (today) or 'siempre' (always) for the present, or 'ayer' (yesterday) or 'la semana pasada' (last week) for the past. If no time marker is present, the general flow of conversation will usually make it clear.
Can I use 'tomar' for taking a pill or medicine?
Yes, absolutely. 'Tomamos la medicina por la mañana' means 'We take the medicine in the morning.' This falls under the consumption/intake meaning.

